Bay Cat

This small wild cat is found only on the island of Borneo. It is typically recognized by its bright chestnut fur, though its underside is paler and its limbs are more reddish. The cat has a short, dark greyish-brown head marked by two dark stripes at the corners of the eyes and an M-shaped pattern on the back. Its long, tapering tail features a white streak on the bottom half and a small black spot at the tip. Adults are estimated to weigh between 3 and 4 kg, with a body length of 49.5 to 67 cm.

The Bay Cat lives in dense tropical forests, ranging from lowland dipterocarp and swamp forests to hill forests at elevations of at least 500 m. Some have been recorded as high as 1,051 m, though it appears to avoid oil palm plantations. Many sightings occur near mangroves or rivers, and the cat seems to prefer core forest areas with little disturbance. Research suggests it is active during the day, with activity peaking in the morning and early afternoon.

Seeing a Bay Cat is difficult because the species is naturally rare and occurs at low densities. It is further threatened by the destruction of its habitat as forests are cleared for human settlement and commercial logging. Borneo has a very high deforestation rate, and the expansion of plantations for biofuels poses a major risk. Additionally, poachers target the cats to sell their skins or to trade them as illegal pets.